News Section | Indian Health
Southeast Asian countries to combat drug resistance: WHO
Health ministers from 11 Southeast Asian countries Tuesday adopted the Jaipur Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance committing to preserving the efficacy of antibiotics through rational use and regulation.
“This is the stark reality the world faces. We have taken antibiotics and other antimicrobials for granted, failing to realise that these precious, yet fragile medicines need appropriate care,” said WHO director general Margaret Chan.
The health ministers met to review key health issues in WHO’s South-East Asia Region focusing on the prevention and control of non communicable diseases.
The declaration called for urgent measures to control further development of antimicrobial resistance even as it continues to tell member nations of the irrational use of the agents.
“More needs to be done to control resistance to antibiotics and to ensure the rational use of antibiotics in order not to allow development of ‘superbugs’ in the region,” said Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO’s regional director for southeast Asia region.
The declaration lays emphasis on developing national antibiotic policies, to regulate the use of antimicrobial agents and increase vigilance about further resistance.
Delegations from countries such as Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh among others will be meeting here Sep 7-9 for the 64th session of the WHO Regional Committee, the premier health body’s governing wing in the region.
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